The National tribune., 1887-01-06
low green tent.
GEN. AND MRS. LOGAN.

dearly-loved husband, Mrs. Logan would be
abundantly consoled The whole people
love her as no woman in all our history has
been loved, and tender sympathy with her
In the affection that has wrecked her life
has added poignancy to the grief that they
feel over the loss of man so valuable to the
country. Not once in a century, in any Ma
tons history, does a couple appear in public
life so well mated as John A Logan and tie
woman who was for more than 81 years his
devoted companion and helpmeet. He was
the embodiment of manly strength, courage,
frankness, aud earnestness She, no less
strong, brave, and earnest in the ways of
womanhood, was and is all grace and ten
derness. She had no thought nor aspiration
that was not for his well-being and advance
ment. She loved her country intensely, and
was ready to make any sacrifice for it be-
cause he loved it with all the devotion of
his earnest soul, and was ready to give up
anything-even his life-for it. When he
took his firm stand for the Union after
the firing upon Fort Sumter, and en-
countered O storm of fierce hostility
from the constituents who had before idol
lied him, she stood up firmly by his side,
and encountered the angry tempest with
resolution equal to his. Her family and his
Joined the ranks Of his enemies, and they
became hers as well, but she never quailed
for an instant, and her bearing before an
angry community was as proud and defiant
as his before the enemies he encountered
upon the battlefield. She had as hard
part to play at home from 1861 to 1865 as
he did at the front, and almost as dangerous,
for more than once there were dangerous
plots against her life by the vicious and
merciless Copperheads who formed so large
part of the population of Southern Illinois.
When he re-entered political life at the
close Of the war she became a more effect
i've helper than any man could be. He
never lacked for enthusiastic and powerful
friends, but none were quite so serviceable
to him as she. She managed most of his
correspondence, knew every friend, saw every
point in the game, watched every move with
an eye of unrelaxing vigilance, held fast his
old friends with silken fetters and attracted
new ones. Many who were Indifferent or
even opposed to him personally became in
terested in his success because they wanted
TO see her succeed.
The nearest parallel in history to this re-
markable couple is probably the first Duke
of Marlboro and his wife, the beautiful but
high tempered Sarah Jennings. John
Churchill, Duke of Marlboro, had in high
degree the soldierly and statesmanlike quail
ties of John A. Logan. He entered the army
as an Ensign, but showed at once unusual
courage, zeal and capacity. He came out of
the first war he was engaged in q Colonel,
and rose to the chief command of the Eng
lish armies under Queen Anne, whose reign
he made illustrious in warlike way by his
splendid victories of Blenheim, Families,
Oudenarde, Malplaquet and Bouchain. He
was such a commander as Grant, Logan
and Sheridan-a leader who believed in
driving straight at his enemy and beating
the fight out of him by terrific blows His
battles were sanguinary, but the losses he
inflicted upon the enemy were always much
more terrible than his own armies suffered,
and his victories were decisive. Like Logan,
he was the bravest of the brave in leading
his men, and directed his battles from the
thick of the heaviest fighting. He was as
successful in politics as in war He and his
wife-who was one of The very ablest poll
ticians in all England during the reigns of
james ii, William and Mary, Anne and
George I-were the strongest factors in Eng
lish politics for most of that time. She
labored necessarily and with eonsum-
mate skill for his advancement, and
when he was in the field con-
tending with the enemies of England,
she was controlling ministries at home to
give him the support he needed The as
tendency she acquired and maintained over
the dull and heavy Anne is one of the TO-
mances of history. From 1850 to ITO Anne
and Sarah Jennings Churchill bore as close
relations as two women could possibly sus-
tain. When Anne was married Lady
Churchill was appointed the first lady of her
bed chamber, and thenceforward was her
confidant, director and ruler until, 80 years
later, the subjects unbridled temper became
too much even for the Queens phlegm, and
the two women separated.
The parallel between the two couples ends
after we leave the consideration Of the devo-
ton of the husbands and wives to each other
the husbands brilliant military careers
and the wives potent helping influence
John Churchill was as corrupt and grasp
ing as John A. Logan was incompatible and
unselfsh. Churchill was rs faithless and
time-serving as Logan was unswervingly
| true. Sarah Jennings Churchill was ruth.